It is 741. After conquering a continent for the Merovingian kings, only one thing stands between Charles Martel and the throne - he's dying. Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles's death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles's daughter flees his court for an enemy's love. Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family's relentless quest for power and destiny. Publishers Weekly - Starred Review "Gleason's gripping historical novel--the first volume in his Carolingian Chronicles--offers readers a vivid mix of bloody battles, intriguing characters, and plenty of pagan sex rites. As stories move toward to their exciting conclusions, the mix of history, action, drama and vigorous doses of sex makes this debut historical novel a page turner." Historical Novel Society - Highly recommended "Gleason's utterly confident novel is the first in a projected series about the 8th century Carolingian dynasty. Gleason's grasp of (his) characters is nothing short of marvelous; Anvil of God is full of fascinating characters, including most especially Charles' wife Sunnichild, secret follower of old religions and behind-the-scenes power-broker." Kirkus Reviews " Political intrigue straight out of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, except that Gleason's novel is based on stories of real people, and this historical "game of thrones" is engrossing, with fast-paced, crisp prose and smart dialogue. An enticing read, sure to please lovers of historical fiction and political and religious intrigue." Blueink Reviews: " J. Boyce Gleason's stellar debut novel is meticulously researched, vividly imagined, and literally unputdownable: as good as anything written by literary giants such as Ken Follett, Bernard Cornwell, Philippa Gregory, and Stephen R. Lawhead. A "must-read" for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. A rich and evocative writing style, profound character development, relentless pacing, powerful themes, and stunning cover art - a towering, breathtaking work of fiction." ForeWord Reviews - Four Stars "Anvil of God will capture the attention of Medieval history fans with its well-crafted dialogue, action, and romantic subplots. Anvil of God moves at a swift pace, accentuated by its engaging characters and tension-filled plot. The cliffhanger at the end will have fans waiting impatiently for the next in the series." After an award-winning career in crisis management and public affairs, J. Boyce Gleason began writing historical fiction to satisfy his passion for storytelling. His first novel  ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles r eceived a starred review from Publishers Weekly, was named  Historical Fiction Book of the Year  by the Independent Publishers Awards and  Mainstream/Literary e-Book of the Year  by Writers Digest Magazine. He has completed the trilogy with Books II & III: WHEEL OF THE FATES and CROWN OF A KING. With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the events that shaped history. He says he writes historical fiction to discover "why." He is married, lives in Virginia and has three sons, three daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren. It is 741. Only one thing stands between Charles the Hammer and the throne - he's dying. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles's death is chaos. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles's daughter flees his court for an enemy's love. Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family's relentless quest for power and destiny.